Land minister pushes to accelerate first-generation new town redevelopment in Ilsan

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Ji-sun visited Ilsan in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday to call for faster progress on first-generation new town redevelopment projects — a push that signals her intent to accelerate both new land development, including third-generation new towns, and the redevelopment of aging planned cities.

At a community welfare center in the Hwindol Village 4 complex in Ilsan new town, Hong met with Goyang Special City Mayor Min Gyeong-seon and officials from the Korea Land and Housing Corp. to review the status of pilot-zone redevelopment projects and the reconstruction of long-term public rental housing. "Redevelopment of first-generation new towns is a critical task for improving aging residential environments and expanding housing supply in the greater Seoul metropolitan area," she said. She added that Ilsan's pilot-zone projects have lagged behind those of other first-generation new towns, making it "the right time for visible progress that residents can actually feel."

In Ilsan, procedures are under way to designate special redevelopment zones centered on four pilot districts — Hugok, Gangchon, Baeksong and Jeongbal villages. Hong urged Goyang Special City to "quickly settle on a reasonable direction for improvement so the project can gain momentum," noting that a review of baseline floor-area ratios is still ongoing.

She also said the ministry would work with Goyang Special City and the Korea Land and Housing Corp. to strengthen institutional and administrative support, ensuring that follow-up procedures — including the designation of special redevelopment zones for the pilot districts — proceed without delay.

Hong also asked the Korea Land and Housing Corp. to "swiftly advance follow-up procedures, including the establishment of a special redevelopment plan and zone designation, so the project can take shape at the earliest possible date" for the Hwindol Village 4 complex, a long-term public rental housing site slated for reconstruction. The complex, completed in 1995, comprises 1,141 permanent rental units and is currently working through preliminary steps toward special redevelopment zone designation, targeted for the first half of 2027.

Since taking office, Hong has made housing supply her top field priority, visiting the Bucheon Daejang district — a third-generation new town — as her first site inspection, followed by successive visits to a private apartment construction site and a newly purchased rental housing project.